Monday, Nov. 12, 2007

Missouri wins game but loses star safety

By MIKE DeARMOND

The Kansas City Star

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COLUMBIA | Chase Daniel completed his first dozen passes as No. 13 Missouri rolled to two first-quarter touchdowns. But the rest of the day the Tigers played no better than on even terms with now 1-8 Iowa State.

And though Missouri won 42-28, the team suffered a huge loss when safety Pig Brown was lost for the season.

Brown left Saturdays game in the fourth quarter with a torn Achilles tendon and will require surgery. MU officials said Brown, a senior, would not return this season, even for a bowl game.

Missouri did move to 7-1 overall, 3-1 in the Big 12 Conference and likely into serious consideration for a spot in the national top 10.

But Saturday's victory came harder than most expected it would, as Iowa State controlled a lopsided time of possession, keeping the ball away from the MU offense.

Daniel didnt have an incompletion until only four seconds remained in a first quarter and that came when Daniel intentionally threw one away against good coverage.

But Daniel also threw a pass that resulted in an Iowa State touchdown in the second quarter.

Trying to hit tight end Martin Rucker on the right side, Daniel threw high. It deflected off Ruckers hands and the Cyclones Devin McDowell intercepted at the MU 25 and ran in for the touchdown.

Missouri led only 20-14 at the half before a disappointing crowd of 53,386.

Six seconds into the third quarter, however, MU defensive end Stryker Sulak sacked quarterback Bret Meyer, forcing a fumble into the end zone. There MUs Lorenzo Williams fell on it for a touchdown, and protected its two-TD cushion from there.